Tema, Dec. 17, GNA -- The Tema branch of the Association of Methodist Brigade, has held its 3rd Biennial Conference with a call on members to lead lives that would be exemplary and challenging to the youth. The Methodist Bishop of Tema, Rev. S. Achamfuo-Yeaboah, who made the call regretted that the Brigade which has great attraction to the youth but some Members were too much inclined to sinful ways and stressed the need for members to repent and stay away from sin.

Speaking on the theme: "the role of the Brigade in Church Evangelism', the Bishop said the objectives of evangelism were to get men, women and children saved and to plant churches and to usher those from Satan's kingdom of darkness to Christ's kingdom of light." He however, reminded members of the association on the need to receive the Holy Spirit Baptism, which is the source of power to do evangelism.

In his message the Diocesan Lay Chairperson, Bro. Ernest Odame-Adams, said the theme for the conference was very appropriate at this time when sociologists and church leaders have been advocating for peer counselling to check the practice of occultism in schools these days.

He said most of these students are made to believe that occult powers can make them pass their exams whiles others indulge in drugs which they claim give them courage and stressed that these were wrong impressions which needed to be condemned and discouraged. Most of those children, he noted ended, up in asylum or dropped out of school and as such were not able to plan for their future but ended up on the streets.

He reminded the members of the association of their responsibility to see to the training of the youth and the need to share with their peers the message of our lord Jesus Christ. "They see you as their role models so lead exemplary lives that would be worthy of emulation .. ", he added. In his address the Diocesan Coordinator of the boys Brigade, Bro. J. H. Dadzie mentioned that over the past years the association has been able to set up bye laws to guide their operations, introduced a welfare fund and as well taken steps to form the Association Methodist Brigades at the Circuit levels to strengthen the administrative structures of the church.